Horse-sling.



G. W. MUSSELMAN.

HORSE SLING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9,1912.

Patented June 10, 1913.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPn C0., WAsmNcTON. D. C.

UNTTEB STATES PATENT TTTTTCE.,

GEORGE W. MUSSELMAN, .OF DENVER, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO SHARP & SMITH, iOF CHICAGO, ILLNOIS, A CORRORATION `OF ILLINOIS.

HORSE-smite.

To aZ whom 2'2? may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WV. MUssnL- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Miami and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Horse-Slings, of which the following is a specification.

My invent-ion relates to an improvement in the class of harness for slinging, or suspending animals, and, more particularly, horses, for therapeutic purposes.

The accompanying drawing illustrates my improved sling applied to a horse, shown by a side view.

The sling comprises a neck-band 1, a breast-band 2 and a breech-band 3, each being best made of heavy canvas, with endtips 4C of leather, forming loops for retaining metal rings 5. The drawing represents only one side of the sling in position, but the opposite side will be understood to be the counterpart of the showing. The neck-band is comparatively narrow, being approximately about twelve inches wide, is of general triangular or T-shape, with one section carrying endstips 4, tting about the baseportion of the animals neck, and the other section passing between the fore legs and terminating in a tongue 1a, preferably of leather and adapted to be engaged by a buckle. The relatively-wide breast-band carries, midway between its ends, a transversely-extending leather holder 6 for a forward buckle 7 with which the tongue 12L connects adjustably, this holder terminating at itsl rear end in a loop 6a for a metal ring 8 for connecting with the holder two snaphooks like the one shown at 9, these snaphooks being on the looped ends of similar straps 10. On the breech-band 3, at opposite sides of its transverse center, are fastened leather holders, like the. one shown at 11, for buckles 12, with which the straps 10 are adjustably connected at their rear ends; and adjacent to each holder 11 is a similar holder 13 for a buckle 14. A strap 15 passes over the animals rump, where it is divided, the sections being fastened at their adjacent ends to a metal ring 16 on a circular leather pad 17, the lower ends of these strap-sections being adjustably connected with the buckles 1st for supporting the breech-band. Each band is connected at the rings 5 on its ends with the opposite ends of a wooden suspension-tree 1S by chains 19 engaging with Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led September 9, 1912.

Patented J une 10, 1913.

Serial No. 719,324.

hooks 2O hung on metal rings 21 depending from loops 22 on metal caps 23 armoring the ends of the tree, which has secured to it, midway between its ends, a clevis 24 connected with the pad-ring 16 by an adjustable strap 25 for holding the rump-strap 15 in place. A suspension-pulley 26 is connected with the clevis through the medium of a metal ring 2T, and serves for hoisting the animal through the medium of a. rope 28, which issuitably suspended from overhead, from a roof-beam or rafter (not shown).

The position of the crosstree 18, with .the parts of the sling connected together as described and adjusted in place, is near the center of gravity of the animals body, so that when the animal is suspended it will hang properly. Moreoveiythe parts are so disposed as to support the weight wholly on the bonv structure of the animals body, and to avoid all abdominal pressure and obstruction to blood-circulation, besides preventing additional distress, where the animal is suffering from disease in which dyspnoea is a marked symptom, or discomfort in case of an advanced stage of pregnancy. Furthermore, the device, which is suiiiciently strong to support the heaviest horse, being readily adjustable as to all its parts, may be fitted to an animal of any size to support the weight of the body resting upon the parts comfortably but securely.

I realize that considerable variation is possible in the details of construction thus specifically shown and described, and I do not intend by illustrating a single specific, or preferred form to limit my invention thereto; my intention being in t-he following claims to claim protection upon all the novelty there may be in the device as broadly as the state of the art will warrant.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A sling of the character described, comprising, in combination, a neck-band to extend in front of and between the forelegs of the animal, a breast-band connected therewith to be located in the rear of the forelegs of the animal and extend rearwardly over the animals breast and short of the abdominal region, and a breech-band having strap-connections with the breastband, a suspension tree, chains connecting said bands with the ends of said tree, and suspension-means on said tree between its ends, all oit said bands being arranged to I extend in Jfront of the animal and having a support the weight of the animal wholly on the bony structure of its body, for the purpose set forth.

2. A sling ot the character described, comprising, in combination, a neck-band to extend in front of and between the forelegs of the animal, a breast-band connected therewith to be located in the rear of the orelegs of Jthe animal and extend rearwardly over the animals breast and short of the abdominal region, and a breech-band having strap-connections with the breastband, a romp-strap connected at its ends with the breech-band, a suspension tree, chains connecting said bands with the ends of said tree, and suspension means on said tree between its ends, and a strap-connection between said rump-strap and tree, all of said bands being so arranged to support the weight of the animal wholly on the bony structure of its body, for the purpose set forth.

8. A sling of the character described, comprising, in combination, a neck-band to tongue-section extending between the forelegs of the animal, a breast-band connected with said tongue-section and located in the rear of the orelegs of the animal and eX- tending rearwardly over the animals breast and short of the abdominal region, a breechband having strap-connection with the breast-band, said bands having loops on their ends, and rings in the loop, a rumpstrap connected at its ends with the breechband, a suspension tree, chains separably connecting said band-rings with the ends of said tree, suspension-means on said tree between its ends, and a strap separably connecting the ramp-strap midway between its ends centrally with said tree, said neck, breast and breech bands being arranged to support the weight of the animal wholly on the bony structure oit its body, for the purpose set forth.

GEORGE WT. BLUSSELMAN. In presence of ALBERT WARD, MARGUERITE CAssELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

